Rail-joint.



M.. SHARP.

BAIL )'OINT. APPLICATION FILED IAN.3I.19I1.

1,226,819'. Patented May 22, 1917.4

MITCHELL SHARP J4. S. GMW

t TEN Fflfl.

'MITCHELL SHARP, OF DUNMORE, WEST VIRGINIA.

BAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2,25, it?.

Application mea January 31, 1917. serial no. 145,664.

To aZZ lwhom t may concern Be it known that l, MILTGHELL SHARP, a

citizen of the United States, residing at' Dunmore, in the county ofPocahontas, State of West Virginia, have invented a new and usefulRail-Joint; and I do herebyv declare the following to be a full,.clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inrail joints, and has for its object to provide a device of thischaracter which embodies novel features of construction whereby theabutting provide a rail joint which is comparativelyl simple andinexpensive in its construction, which admits of the rail ends beingreadily placed together or separated, which provides a strong and rigidjoint.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fullyappear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is aside elevation of a rail joint constructed in accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.'

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of one of the locking blocks.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the rail ends. n

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, thenumeral l designates the abutting ends of a pair of rails which may beof the conventional cross section and include a head and base connectedby a centrally disposed and comparatively thin vertical web member. Therails are supported in the usual manner by ties 2 and secured inposition thereon by suitable fastening members such as the spikes 3.Metal bearing plates l may be interposed between the rails and the ties,if desired.

Each of the rail ends l has a` pair of'longitudinally disposed slots 5in the web thereof, and is formed with a longitudinally extendingprojection 6 which. is offset lateri ally from the web and arranged tolit closelyT against the web of the abutting rail end. These extensions6 arey preferably formed integral with the respective rail ends, and arein longitudinal alinement with the lbefore mentioned slots 5. Each ofthe extensions 6 carries a pair of E -shaped lugs 7, said lugs beingarranged to pass laterally through the slots 5 of the other rail endwhen the two railyends are slightly separated, and to interlock with theends of the said slots 5 when the rail ends are moved toward each other.The lengths of the slots 5 are substantially the same as thelengths ofthe bases of the L-shaped lugs 7, and the spacing of the slots and lugsis the same. lWith this construction it will be obvious that when therail ends are slightly separated, the L-shaped lugs 7 of the webextensions Gcan be inserted laterally through the slots' of the oppositerail ends, after which a. slight longitudinal movement of the rail endstoward each other will cause the hooked ends of the L-shaped lugs tointerlock with the ends of the slots 5 in such a manner as to hold therail ends securely against relative lateral or vertical movement. lnorder to lock the L-shaped lugs 7 in operative position,- locking blocks8 may be inserted in certain of the slots 5 between the ends of theslots and the backs of the L-shaped lugs 7, thereby preventing theL-shaped lugs from moving longitudinally within the slots and becomingdisengaged therefrom. These locking blocks 8 are shown as formed withspring arms 9 which are adapted to be inserted through openings l0 inthe web extensions 6, said arms terminating in rounded noses 9a whichare arranged to expand and engage the edges of the opening l0 to holdthe locking block in operative' position. It will be obvious, however,that the locking block can be forcibly inserted in position or removedtherefrom, that it is not liable to be dislodged by vibration, and thatby the use of this construction the necessity of employing screws orbolts is entirely avoided.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:- t

1. A rail Oint including the abutting endsof a pair of rails, said railends being provided With slots, a laterallyV offset extension projectinglongitudinally from each rail and fitting against the side of the otherrail, an L-shaped lug carried by each extension and interlocking withthe slot of the other rail7 and locking means for holding thev L- shapedlugs in operative position. y l c 2. A rail joint including the abuttingends of a pair of rails, said rails being provided with slots, alaterallyoffset extension projecting longitudinally from each rail andiitting against the side of the other rail, anl L-shaped lug carried byeach extensiony and adapted to be inserted through the longitudinal slotof the other rail and moved longitudinally into an interlockingengagement With one end thereof, and locking blocks inserted in theslots of the rails back` of the L-shaped lugs for holding the latter inoperative position.

3. A rail joint including the abutting ends of a pair of rails, saidrails being provided in the Webs thereof With longitudinal slots, alateral offset extension projecting longi tudinally from each railv endand tting'V against the side ofthe other rail, an L- shaped lug carriedby each extension and adapted to be inserted through the longitudinalslot of the other rail and moved longitudinally into engagement Withonek end of the slot, the extension being' provided With an openingadjacent the back of the' L-shaped lug, locking blocks insertibleWithinfthe longitudinal slots of the rails back of the L-shaped' lugsfor holding the latter inoperative position, and spring arms carried bythe locking blocks and insertible through the openings of the extensionsto hold the locking blocks in operative position.

,4. A rail jointrincluding the abutting ends of a pair of rails, saidrails havingl longitudinally extending slots in the Websv a pair ofspring. arms projecting from eachv ofthe locking blocks'for engagementywith the before mentioned openings of the eX'- tensions to hold thelocking blocks in operative position. f K

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MITCHELL SHARP.

Witnesses:

Ur'roN l?. SHARP, W. N. THOMAS.

Gopies of this patent may be ob'tained'forA ve c'ents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents;r Washington, D. U.

